Blue Dragon Part 46

'You'll be terrific in Court,' Bai Hu said.

'Oh, thanks a lot lot.'

He turned and grabbed a tall drink of something cold from the demon waiter who had appeared next to him. 'Your family is great. Your dad has already wired up nearly half the women's quarters. Your mother has made friends with just about everybody. Your sister Jennifer can be a bit hard to take sometimes, but the other one-I don't remember her name-she's a cutie. I offered her half a million US dollars for that Southern stone Shen and she wouldn't take it, despite its protests. She said it was worth more than money to her.'

'Amanda,' I said. 'I can believe that she wouldn't take money for it; it's saved her family's lives more than once. But the stone tried to convince her to take the money?'

'I think it was planning to sneak back to her after I'd paid for it,' the Tiger said with amus.e.m.e.nt.

The loudspeakers crackled to life over the arena. 'Two Nine Seven, riding Sun Bird.'

A young son of the Tiger, slim and well-built with mid-brown hair, rode a large strong chestnut horse into the arena. He came to the front of the box and saluted us with his whip. The Tiger and I nodded back, the Tiger raising his drink. Two Nine Seven then faced the judges and saluted, and the bell rang for him to commence his round.

'And you keep your paws off my sisters, they're married,' I said.

'You're not married,' the Tiger said softly, watching the young man take the horse over the jumps. A rail went down and he winced.

I sighed. 'We've had this discussion before, Bai Hu. And if John knew, he'd pull your whiskers out one by one.'

He shrugged. 'Can't blame a guy for trying.'

We watched the rider in silence for a while. He finished the round with eight faults-two poles knocked down-but he had the fastest time.

'Good horse,' the Tiger said. 'He's done well with it.' He didn't turn away from the arena. 'Is it all right if your family stay? I'd be truly honoured by their presence. I would be able to keep them safe for you.'

'If that's what they want, I have no problem with it.'

A group of gorgeous young wives appeared, escorted by a couple of guards. They sat in the stands and waved cheerfully to the Tiger. He waved back.

'Three One Five on White Flame,' the announcer said. Michael rode out on a small grey horse, only about fifteen and a half hands. He stopped and saluted us in front of the podium. As we nodded back he went rigid, then relaxed.

'Michael MacLaren on White Flame,' the announcer said, sounding unhappy.

The Tiger made a soft sound of amus.e.m.e.nt as Michael turned away to salute the judges.

'What do you do if one of the sons has a fling with one of the wives?' I said.

'Doesn't happen,' he said firmly.

'Oh, come on,' I said. 'There are supermodels, actresses, the whole works in there. A smorgasbord for any red-blooded guy. You can't tell me it doesn't happen.'

'Doesn't happen,' he repeated. 'Not red-blooded guys.'

I inhaled sharply with horror. 'Oh my G.o.d, you don't don't. Not any more. Tell me it doesn't happen any more.'

'Yeah,' he said with a grin. 'Used to happen. I never did it to them, they'd do it to themselves. Stupid b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. I kept telling them it's a waste of time, you can't kill all the hormones, all you can do is make yourself useless, but they wouldn't listen. Being a member of the Seraglio Elite Guard is one of the greatest honours in the West. So they did it. Cut everything everything off. And so, as much as I hated it, I had to give them a job. It was a vicious cycle. Same as in Beijing.' off. And so, as much as I hated it, I had to give them a job. It was a vicious cycle. Same as in Beijing.'

'But you have have stopped it now?' stopped it now?'

'Of course.' He shrugged. 'Found a clever way around it. One of the wives thought of it. When they turn twenty, they can apply. A Shen inspects them. If they show no interest at all in chicks, and they have the talent, they're promoted. The numbers are just right: about one in ten. The situation works well.'

I was speechless, a huge grin on my face.

He continued with a perfectly straight face. 'They all go out clubbing together. I think they have more fun in Gay Paree than the wives do.'

I collapsed over the railing laughing. When I'd regained control I wiped my eyes. 'If Leo knew about it he'd be here with Michael every Sunday. Some of those Elite Guards are incredibly cute.'

'Oh, Leo knows,' the Tiger said. 'But he is completely devoted to his Lord, his Lady and their child. He never wants to be too far from you. He told me that himself.'

'She's not our child,' I said softly. 'She's his child.'

'Yes, she is, Emma,' the Tiger said. 'She's yours just as much as she's his. One day you guys must make it formal. You could make a declaration at Court after you're married. Permit me to arrange it for you when the time comes. I'd love to see it.'

I hesitated. It was disrespectful to Mich.e.l.le's memory for me even to consider this.

'Mich.e.l.le would have wanted it, Emma,' the Tiger said.

'You knew her?'

'Clear round for Three...' the announcer said, his voice trailing off as Michael glared at him. 'For Michael MacLaren.'

'That's an exceptionally talented little horse he has there,' the Tiger said. 'Yes, of course I knew her. I was best man at the wedding.'

Everybody applauded and Michael gave me a cheery wave. I waved back.

'If you guys have a Western wedding, though, I'm not coming,' the Tiger said. 'Western weddings are as boring as h.e.l.l. Those things take forever, altogether too much ceremonial garbage. The Chinese way's much better. Serve tea to the elders, have a big dinner, lock the bride and groom away to do their thing, and then play mah jong for the rest of the night. And a few days later have a declaration in Court, making Simone your own.'

It made my heart ache to think of it. We'd be a family. John would be my husband. Simone would be my daughter. A family. And then a chill went through me.

'What if I'm the White Snake?' I said.

'You can't be,' he said. 'Ah Wu and I discussed it. The PaG.o.da has not fallen. The Red Snake has not appeared. You are not the White Snake.'

'What would happen to his vow to marry me if I was the White Snake? If I was his daughter?'

'How do you know she was his daughter?'

I smiled grimly. 'I saw the look on his face.'

'He vowed to marry you. It would happen. If you are the White Snake, you would not discover it until after you are wed. That is the nature of a vow such as this. I felt it when he made his oath to you, all the way from here. Such a vow from one such as he is a thing of incredible power.'

'What would be our punishment for marrying in a situation like that?'

'I don't know,' he said. 'Something like that has never occurred among us. And it's already too late, you know that.' He suddenly appeared wistful. 'The White Snake was a delightful girl. A loving wife, faithful, everything a man could want. Her human husband was very lucky. What they had together was a rare and precious thing. Even after he discovered her Serpent nature, he still loved and trusted her.'

I tried to control the bitterness in my voice. 'And a Taoist priest convinced her husband she was evil. Just because she was a snake.'

He smiled gently. 'There is nothing evil about snakes. They are just cold-blooded.'

'And eat babies. Alive.'

He shrugged. 'Young antelope are the best. Sweetest.'

'But serpent Shen in human form can't do the things that I can do,' I said. 'I checked.'

'Is it true that you lifted Leo one-handed?' he said softly.

I didn't reply.

'Ah Wu is not concerned, but I have to admit that I am. That is more than Serpent nature, Emma. Do you thirst for blood? Do you have dreams?'

I dropped my head. 'Yes.'

'Clear round for Two Eight Seven,' the announcer said. 'With the fastest time, Two Eight Seven is now in the lead.'

Everybody applauded.

'Do you harm any of them in your dreams?' the Tiger said.

'No.' I glanced at him, trying to hold my emotions in. His golden face was full of sympathy. 'One Two Two and Kitty Kwok had me for a year. They experimented on me, I know they did. The Serpent is probably a result of that. If it is, then it's demon, it's inside me, and they may be able to bring it out.'

's.h.i.t.' He looked away. 's.h.i.t.'

'I dream I'm a Mother.'

'Having children is life's greatest gift.'

'I dream I'm a Snake Mother Snake Mother, Bai Hu.'

His voice was almost a whisper. 's.h.i.t.'

I ran my hands through my hair. 'I vowed to Simone that I would never take my own life. I promised her.'

He looked into my eyes. 'You have wanted to?'

'When I see what's inside me, sometimes, yes.'

He turned away. 'I wouldn't blame you.' He sighed, his shoulders moving. Then he held his hand out. A bright glow appeared in his hand, and coalesced into a large silvery claw, gleaming on his palm. He held it towards me. 'Take this.'

I lifted the claw out of his hand. It was about ten centimetres long and the point was sharp. It appeared to be made of platinum.

'It's one of mine,' he said. 'If you feel that the dark urge is too strong, hold it in your hand and concentrate on me. I will come.'

'Thank you.'

He turned back to the arena. 'Time to present the trophies. Will you do them the honour?'

I checked the board. 'Michael came second. I'd love to give him the trophy. But we'll need to find a place to put them soon; his room is full of them.' I glanced at the Tiger. 'What would Xuan Wu do if you had to kill me to protect Simone?'

'He is not vengeful by nature, Emma. But his grief would be punishment enough.'

Both of us rose, smiling, to present the riders with their prizes.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE.

Louise's face changed and she looked up at me, more serious now. Her voice softened. 'Do you turn into a snake, Emma?'

I hesitated.

'Tell me,' she said softly.

I changed, and grabbed her. I quickly wrapped my coils around her. Squeeze this one. No venom; I wanted to feel her struggle. The demon in the corner and the delicious child would be next.

'Emma, what are you doing? Stop it!' Louise yelled, struggling frantically. Her arms pushed against my coils, only encouraging me to pull tighter. The feeling was fabulous.

'Emma, you're killing me, let go. Let go Let go!' Louise shrieked.

If I could have grinned I would have. I checked the baby in the corner; yep, still there. If they tried to make a run for it I wasn't worried; I'd be faster than them.

Louise's voice became strangely deeper, sounding more masculine. 'Emma, you're hurting me, ease up!'

Something clicked inside my head. What?

'Emma, let go! You're hurting! Let go go!' Louise's voice was even deeper now, and her face was darker, and it wasn't the beautiful black of asphyxiation.

'Emma, you're killing killing me!' me!'

Leo?

Something crashed and I was struggling with Leo; I had my arms around him and held him tight. I released him and cast around: I was in my bed back home at the Peak and Leo was sitting on the edge of the bed facing me. John stood just inside the door where he'd come racing in.

Leo's face was blank with horror. I threw myself into his arms. He hesitated for a moment, then held me and buried his face in my hair, stroking the back of my head.

'Leo, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,' I said, gasping. 'I was dreaming. I didn't mean to hurt you.' I pulled back, hands on his arms, so that I could see his face. 'Are you okay?'

Leo smiled slightly. 'That's a h.e.l.l of a grip you've got there, sweetheart.'

'Any cracked ribs?' John said softly without moving from the doorway.

I quickly checked Leo for injuries, and shook my head through the tears. 'No.'

'I think you'd better talk to Mr Chen,' Leo said, releasing me and rising. 'That was a h.e.l.l of a dream.'